Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “web” come from?

Web descends from Middle English webbe, from Old English webba, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European webʰ-, a root meaning to weave or plait.

web (English): The silken structure which a spider builds using...

Definitions

  1. The silken structure which a spider builds using...

Ancestry of “web”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishwebbeWeaved fabric; fabric manufactured by weaving; A...
2Old Englishwebbaweaver
3Old English-aEnding forming adverbs; nominative masculine...
4Proto-Germanic-ō—
5Proto-Germanic-ô-ly; Forms agent nouns, often from the zero-grade...
6Proto-Indo-European-ōDerives nouns from roots

Words derived from “web”

  • website
  • webbing
  • webcast
  • weblike
  • webmail
  • webwork
  • webby
  • webworm
  • foodweb
  • webspace
  • webfooted
  • subweb
  • webfoot
  • Geoweb
  • webmistress
  • webform
  • webslinger
  • webless
  • webchat
  • microweb
  • unweb
  • webcamera
  • webspinner
  • underwebbing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -ō →